Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Dungey Wins Steel City MX Lites with Izzi in Second

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Byrne fourth overall in final ’08 MX

Round 12 – AMA Motocross Series

Delmont, Pennsylvania

Steel City Raceway

August 29 - 30, 2008

Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ryan Dungey ended the 2008 AMA Motocross Lites season by winning both Motocross Lites motos and taking the overall victory at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pennsylvania, on Saturday afternoon. Dungey celebrated an impressive season, with three MX Lites wins and six additional podium finishes. The young Minnesota rider finished the season in second place overall. Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Nico Izzi followed Dungey home in second place overall, thanks to fifth- and second-place moto finishes. Izzi’s rookie season saw him pick up two podium finishes this year, two top-five results and four top-10 finishes. Overall, Izzi was fifth place overall in the MX LItes Championship.

In the Motocross class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s Michael Byrne also finished the AMA Motocross season on a high note. For the Australian rider, “four” was the magic number: He brought home two fourth-place moto finishes for fourth overall at Steel City, and this year saw Byrne capture four podium finishes. Finally, he rounded out the season in fourth place overall in the championship.

Ryan Dungey:

“It’s been a great race weekend. Mostly, I was just out there trying to stay up front and race the track. I’ve got to give it up for my Rockstar Makita Suzuki team and for my family for their support. The Suzuki RM-Z250 has been running strong, and I’ve been having a great time racing. The team works really hard during the week so we can come out here on the weekend and do what we need to do. This was a great way to finish the season, with the bike running great and the fans cheering for us.”


Nico Izzi:

“I didn’t get the greatest of starts overall, but I was on a mission when I saw the guys ahead of me. I just buckled down and did what I had to do. Hats off to the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 for giving me another podium this year. In the off-season, I’m looking forward to taking a week off and then getting back to work. I want to win a Supercross title next year and do well in the Outdoors next year.”


Michael Byrne:

“It wasn’t a bad weekend but it wasn’t the greatest weekend either. It was good in that the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 ran really well and the team was great but I was just a little disappointed in myself because I wanted to get on the podium for the last race. But I came up a little short. But overall, I had fun and the bike worked well. It was a great series for me, it’s the best I’ve ever done in the AMA Motocross class so I’ve got nothing to complain about.”

AMA Motocross Top 10 (Moto Finishes)

1. James Stewart, Kawasaki, 1-1

2. Tim Ferry, Kawasaki, 2-2

3. Broc Hepler, Yamaha, 3-3

4. Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing, 4-4

5. Andrew Short, Honda, 5-7

6. Jimmy Albertson, Honda, 7-6

7. Sean Hamblin, Yamaha, 6-9

8. Josh Hill, Yamaha, 11-5

9. Ivan Tedesco, Honda, 9-8

10. Matt Boni, Honda, 13-11

AMA Motocross Lites Top 10 (Moto Finishes):

1. Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing, 1-1

2. Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing, 5-2

3. Jake Weimer, Honda, 6-3

4. Brett Metcalfe, Kawasaki, 3-6

5. Broc Tickle, Yamaha, 9-4

6. Blake Wharton, Honda, 7-9

7. Matt Lemoine, Yamaha, 2-32

8. Phillip Nicoletti, Kawasaki, 8-13

9. Kyle Chisholm, Kawasaki, 18-5

10. Steven Clarke, Suzuki, 16-7